Remotely operable register resetting mechanism

ABSTRACT

A register has a plurality of groups of decimally relate number wheels which are driven during a dispensing operation to indicate the quantity and cost of a separable commodity (e.g., gasoline) being dispensed. A motorized mechanism, driven by a motor in the housing of the dispensing apparatus (which motor is energizable from a remote point), is utilized for resetting the number wheels to zero after the completion of a dispensing operation. The motor drives a shaft whose rotation releases a latch and also effects the resetting of the number wheels.

United States Patent [1 1 Young 1 REMOTELY OPERABLE REGISTER RESETTING MECHANISM [75] Inventor: Einar T. Young, Newtown Square,

Sun Oil Company, Philadelphia, Pa.

March 28, 1972 Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No;

U.S. Cl. ..235/94 R, 222/33 Int. Cl. ..B67d 5/26 Field of Search ..235/94 R, 144 ME; 222/33 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Hazard ..222/33 Bliss ..235/94 R MECHL. i l ii.

Wright et al. ..235/94 R Wells ..222/33 Primary ExaminerStephen J. Tomsky Att0mey-George L. Church et a1.

ABSTRACT A register has a plurality of groups of decimally relate number wheels which are driven during a dispensing operation to indicate the quantity and cost of a separable commodity (e.g., gasoline) being dispensed.

A motorized mechanism, driven by a motor in the housing of the dispensing apparatus (which motor is energizable from a remote point), is utilized for resetting the number wheels to zero after the completion of a dispensing operation. The motor drives a shaft whose rotation releases a latch and also effects the resetting of the number wheels.

13 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTFUHAR] 31m SHEET 2 UP 5 REMOTELY OPERABLE REGISTER RESETTING MECHANISM This invention relates generally to registers or counters, and more particularly to an improved resetting mechanism for a. register. Speaking generally, the invention may be thought of as an improvement over the mechanism disclosed in Bliss U.S. Pat. No. 2,814,444.

The invention has particular application to counters or registers employing a plurality of groups of indicating wheels (number wheels) and wherein, if desired, more than one quantity may be counted or registered. A typical example of the use of such a register is in the gasoline dispensing field, where it is desired to register both the quantity of gasoline dispensed and the cost thereof. In such installations, the indicators of the register are adapted to be driven by a meter, a change speed mechanism set in accordance with the prevailing price per gallon being employed to provide the proper ratio between the drives to the cost' and quantity wheels. In the dispensing of gasoline, it is the preferred operating procedure, of course, to reset the indicating wheels to zero after one dispensing operation is completed and before the start of a second dispensing operation. In fact, every gasoline dispensing apparatus in use today has incorporated therein a mechanical interlocking arrangement which positively prevents restarting of the pump in such apparatus, once it has been turned off, unless the register is first reset to zero.

At the present time, the trend in gasoline merchandising is toward a self-service type of operation, one wherein the customer dispenses the gasoline into his own fuel tank. As previously stated, one of the several steps which must be carried out in order to begin a gasoline dispensing operation is to reset the counter or register to zero, from the previous dispensing operation. Self-service operation would be simplified if this step could be carried out by an attendant, so that it would be eliminated insofar as the customer himself is concerned. Such attendant in a self-service type of operation would preferably be located remotely from the gasoline dispensing apparatus, for example in a cashierscage where he could monitor several separate and independent gasoline dispensing apparatus units. Furthermore, if the register resetting step can be effected only by an attendant at a remote location, the unauthorized dispensing of gasoline can be effectively forestalled, since, as previously stated, resetting of the register is required in order to begin a gasoline dispensing operation.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel resetting mechanism for a register.

Another object is to provide a novel remotely operable resetting mechanism for a register.

A further object is to provide a resetting mechanism, for a register incorporated in gasoline dispensing apparatus, which is operable only at a point remote from the apparatus.

In registers of the prior art, such as that disclosed in the aforementioned patent, a strong spring (which is used as a source of mechanical power for the actual register resetting operation) is tensioned when a pump control handle is manually operated to the off" position. Due to the presence of this heavy spring, considerable physical force (on the order of lbs., for example) is required to operate this handle to off." This substantial physical force is a definite drawback for self-service operation. Therefore, a still further object of this invention is to provide a resetting mechanism wherein the power for resetting is provided by an electric motor, rather than by physical force exerted by the customer.

The objects of this invention are accomplished, briefly, in the following manner: When resetting of the register is desired (after completion of a dispensing operation), a small resetting motor mounted in the bottom of the dispensing apparatus housing is started in response to operation of a push-button switch in the cashiers cage, and this motor then maintains itself on to drive an output shaft through one revolution. A crank on this output shaft drives a shaft associated with the register through an angle of about 36, then returns this latter shaft to its original or rest position. A mechanism coupled to this latter shaft mechanically effects the resetting of the number wheels of the register.

A detailed description of the invention follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a counter or register according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof, the moving parts of the register being shown in the position which they assume when a dispensing operation is initiated;

FIG. 3 is a similar side view taken from the side of the register opposite from that shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 1; v

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 2 showing the moving parts in the position which they assume at the end of a dispensing operation when the pump motor is turned off;

FIG. 6 is a similar fragmentary view showing the moving parts in the position which they assume at the end of the first half of a resetting operation;

FIG. 7 is a similar fragmentary view showing the moving parts in the position which they assume at the end of a resetting operation and before the motor is turned on for a subsequent dispensing operation;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 11-11 ofFIG. 5;and

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating the motorized driving means for resetting the register.

Referring now to FIGS. I-4, showing a register of the type particularly adapted for use in gasoline-dispensing apparatus, it will be seen that the register is mounted on a frame consisting of a pair of side plates 10 held in spaced-apart relationship by spreader bars 12. The frame has slidably journaled therein four axially movable horizontal wheel-supporting shafts 14, 16, 18, and 20, the shaft 14 having mounted thereon a group of rotatable number wheels for registering the cost of the gasoline dispensed, these wheels being hereinafter referred to as the cost wheels C. Similarly mounted on the shaft 16 is a group of number wheels which are utilized to register the quantity of gasoline dispensed,

which latter group of wheels is hereinafter referred to as the quantity wheels Q. In this type of apparatus, it is desired to provide a duplicate indication at opposite ends of the register so that the operator (which would be the customer in a self-service operation) may read the indication from either side of the dispensing apparatus. Accordingly, the shaft 18 is provided with a group of number wheels corresponding to the cost wheels C, and these will be referred to hereinafter as the cost wheels C. In like manner, the shaft 20 has mounted thereon a group of number wheels for registering the quantity of gasoline dispensed, which correspond to the quantity wheels Q, and these will be referred to hereinafter as the quantity wheels Q.

As is customary with this type of apparatus, the completely assembled register, as installed in a gasoline dispensing apparatus, is preferably provided with a protective cover not shown) which is a generally box-like housing having windows situated in registry with the quantity wheels Q so as to expose the reading line thereof to view, and provided with other windows situated in registry with the cost wheels C' to similarly expose the cost wheels C to view. It will be understood that this cover has similar groups of windows at the opposite side for cooperation with the cost wheels C and quantity wheel Q.

The register or counter when used in a dispensing apparatus is adapted to be associated with a change speed mechanism or variator, as disclosed in the above-mentioned patent. Number wheels (not shown) are provided, these latter wheels being visible from the outside of the aforementioned housing and being associated with the variator mechanism, such as to indicate the price per gallon of the liquid being dispensed. The variator mechanism is set in accordance with such price to produce the proper speed ratio between the drives to the cost wheels and quantity wheels, respectively.

The manner in which the cost wheels C, C and the quantity wheels Q, Q are driven in order to register the cost and quantity of the liquid dispensed is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. Referring to these figures, it will be seen that there is rotatably mounted midway between the ends of the frame an upper cross-shaft 32 and a lower cross-shaft 34. The upper cross-shaft 32 has fixed thereto adjacent the ends of the shaft a pair of gears 36, 36 which mesh with idler gears 38, 38 mounted on studs 40, 40' which are respectively mounted in the opposite side plates 10. The idler gears 38, 38' are in mesh with the driven gears 42, 42' which are connected, respectively, to the wheel of lowest order of the cost wheels C and C. The shaft 32 has fixed thereto, intermediate its ends, a bevel gear 44 which meshes with a bevel gear 46 shown in phantom in FIG. 1. This latter gear is mounted on the output shaft of the variator previously mentioned. The arrangement is such that the unit wheels of the group of cost wheels C and C will be driven in unison at a speed commensurate with the price of the quantity of gasoline being dispensed.

Each of the number wheels of the groups of cost wheels C and C is provided about its periphery with indicia consisting of the numerals zero to nine inclusive, and it is the intention that for each complete revolution of a number wheel of lower order, the wheel of next higher order will be rotated one-tenth revolution. The

transfer mechanism for transferring the count from the wheels of lower order to the wheels of higher order is quite conventional and forms no part of the present invention; therefore, it will not be described herein. A suitable transfer mechanism is disclosed in the aforementioned patent.

Turning now to the gear train for driving the quantity wheels Q, Q, it will be seen that the number wheels of lowest order of the quantity wheels Q, Q are driven in similar manner by gears 62, 62 on opposite ends of shaft 34 which engage idler gears 64, 64' which in turn mesh with the driven gears 42, 42 of the number wheels of lowest order of the quantity wheels. The shaft 34 is rotated by means of a bevel gear 66 fixed intermediate the ends of shaft 34 and meshing with a bevel gear 68 shown in phantom in FIG. 1 and which is mounted on a shaft driven without any variable speed change by the meter (not shown). As is well known, there is employed in gasoline dispensing apparatus a meter through which is passed the gasoline dispensed and which is rotated thereby in an amount commensurate with the quantity of gasoline dispensed. The meter is utilized to drive the quantity register directly, while the drive to the cost register is through the variator which changes the speed of rotation in accordance with the price per gallon of the liquid dispensed.

The means to transfer the count of the wheels of lower order to the wheels of higher order in the groups of wheels Q, Q whereby each wheel of higher order will be rotated one-tenth revolution for each complete revolution of the preceding wheel of lower order is the same as in the case of the cost wheels, previously mentioned.

The construction of the number wheels of the register forms no part of the present invention, so will not be disclosed in detail herein. The detailed construction of these number wheels is disclosed in the aforementioned patent. As fully described in the cited patent, axial movement of the axially movable wheel-supporting shafts 14, 16, 18, and 20 causes clutching and declutching of the number wheels to take place. Suffice it to say here, for the purposes of the present specification, that axial shifting of the shafts 14, 16, 18, and 20 in the vertically downward direction in FIG. 1 (how this shifting is effected being described hereinafter) declutches the number wheels from the driven gears 42, 42' and conditions these wheels for a resetting operation, by clutching them to respective ultimate resetting gears 106 one of which latter is provided for each number wheel. From this downwardly shifted position of the shafts 14, 16, 18, and 20, an axial shifting of these shafts in the vertically upward direction in FIG. 1 (to their original positions) reclutches the number wheels with their driven gears 42, 42. During the actual resetting operation (and as described in the cited patent), as each number wheel reaches zero, the operative driving connection between each number wheel and its resetting gear 106 is broken, through a declutching action which then takes place.

The supporting shafts 14, l6, l8, and 20, although mounted for axial shifting movement, are retained against any rotational movement by pins 123 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) fixed on the outer ends of the shafts and slidably received between ears 125 formed in the side plate of the frame.

In order to impart turning movement to the gears 106 for resetting purposes, each of the gears 106 is meshed with one of the gears 124 which are fixed to transverse shafts 126, 126'. The shafts 126, 126' protrude through the side plate shown in FIG. 2 and are provided at their outer ends with pinions 128 which mesh at opposite sides with the spur gear 130 which is rotatably mounted on the main reset shaft 132. As explained more fully hereinafter, the gear 130 is caused to turn by a resetting motor (which is controlled remotely, by means of a manually operated switch) in order to reset all of the number wheels to zero in one operation.

The shifting of the wheel-supporting shafts 14, 16, 18, and 20, in order to condition the register for a resetting operation by declutching the number wheels from the driven gears 42, 42, or to recondition the register for a registering operation by reclutching the numberwheels to the driven gears, is accomplished by a mechanism disposed on the exterior of the opposite side plate 10 shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, there is fixed to the main reset shaft 132 a cam 134 of which a segment 134a is of smaller radius and a second seg ment 13411 is of larger radius, the segments being interconnected by inclined camming surfaces 134a. The cam 134 cooperates with a pair of rollers 136 mounted on a slide 138 slidably mounted at its opposite ends on ears 140 provided on the side plate. The arrangement is such that, as the cam 134 is turned approximately 70 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3, the camming surfaces 134c will come into play and move the slide 138 to the left, and conversely, when the cam is returned in a reverse direction, the slide will be moved to the right and returned to original position. An arcuate slot 135 in the cam 134 accommodating a stop 137 projecting from the frame limits rotation of the cam 134 and acts as a safety stop in the event the operator (customer) attempts to turn the shaft 132 too far. i

The opposite ends of the slide 138 are formed with notches 142 for accommodating and engaging the tails of pawls 144 which are fixed to upright shafts 146 journaled as at 148 at opposite ends on the side plate. The extremities of the shafts 146 are provided with gear segments 150 meshing with a series of circumferential teeth 152 on the adjacent protruding ends of the wheelsupporting shafts 14, 16, 18, and 20. Consequently, when the main reset shaft 132 is in the position shown in FIG. 3, which is the registering position, the wheelsupporting shafts l4, l6, l8, and 20 are retained in the position shown generally in FIG. 1, the number wheels then being engaged with their respective driven gears 42, 42'. However, when the main reset shaft 132 is rotated to the other position, the slide 138 is shifted to the left from the position shown in FIG. 3, causing rotation to be applied to the upright shafts 146 which in turn axially shifts the wheel-supporting shafts 14, 16, 18, and 20 in the vertically downward direction in FIG. 1, whereupon the number wheels are disengaged from their respective driven gears and are in condition for resetting.

It will be apparent from the preceding description that, in order to reset the register, it is only necessary that the main reset shaft 132 be turned sufficiently to cause shifting of the number wheel supporting shafts,

and then that the spur gear 130 by rotated, which latter I will in turn cause rotation of the gears 106 to return the number wheels to zero position. Thereafter, the main reset shaft may be again turned to shift the wheel-supporting shafts back to their original supporting position, thus conditioning the register for a subsequent registering operation. As will be explained subsequently, the rotation of the spur gear 130 is effected by means of a motor which is controllable from a remote point.

The main reset shaft 132 is turned by means ofa control handle 168 (which is also used for controlling the pump motor, as will be described) which is adapted to be actuated by the operator (customer). The handle 168 is coupled mechanically through a suitable linkage 13 (schematically indicated in FIG. 1) to one end of the main reset shaft 132, at the side of the register shown in FIG. 3 (as indicated in FIG. 1). A suitable linkage or mechanical coupling which can be used at 13 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the above-mentioned patent. When the handle 168 is turned by the operator through approximately from a position wherein the apparatus is in condition for a dispensing operation, a similar turning movement will be applied through the linkage 13 to the main reset shaft 132, thereby causing shifting of the wheel-supporting shafts to resetting position. Conversely, when the handle is returned to a dispensing position, the resulting movement will cause the wheel-supporting shafts to be shifted to registering position.

The handle 168 is also preferably utilized to turn on and off the pump motor switch (not shown in the drawings), by means of a mechanical coupling between the pump control handle 168 and the pump motor switch. A suitable mechanical coupling for this purpose is disclosed in the aforementioned patent. The arrangement is such that when the handle 168 is turned by the operator (the customer, in a self-service type of operation) to a position such as to cause shifting of the wheel-supporting shafts to resetting position, the pump motor will be turned off" (i.e., the pump motor switch will be opened); when the handle 168 is turned to a position such as to cause shifting of the wheel-supporting shafts to registering position, the pump motor will be turned on (the pump motor switch will be closed).

Turning now to FIGS. 1, 2, and 5-9, it will be seen that the primary resetting gear is rotatably mounted on a hub 131 which in turn is rotatably mounted on the reset shaft 132 between the outer end of this shaft and the side plate 10. Fixed to a coupling 154 provided on the outer end of shaft 132 is a drive plate which, by reason of such mounting, is adapted to turn with the reset shaft. Immediately behind the drive plate 180 and secured to the hub 131 is a control plate 182. Behind the control plate 182 is a notched disk 184 which is fixed to the primary resetting gear 130. In the specific embodiment disclosed, the notched disk 184 is, in fact, made integral with the resetting gear 130.

Pivoted on the outer face of the control plate 182 adjacent the periphery thereof is a drive pawl 186, which is biased in a clockwise direction by means of a tension spring 188 one end of which is attached to pawl 186 and the opposite end of which is attached to control plate 182. The drive pawl 186 has a nose portion 187 which is adapted to cooperate with the beveled forward edge 2 of a notch 190 formed in the drive plate 180. Consequently, when the apparatus is in the position shown in FIG. 2, which is the position at the end of a dispensing operation, the turning off of the pump motor by movement of the handle 168 will cause counter-clockwise movement of the shaft 132 and drive plate 180 and, by engagement of the drive pawl nose 187 with the notch 190, will cause similar counter-clockwise movement of the control plate 182 (compare FIGS. 2 and 5).

An operating shaft 250 is rotatably journaled in the opposite side plates of the frame, this shaft extending outwardly beyond the side plates 10 in both directions. At the side plate 10 visible in FIGS. 2 and 5-7 (see also FIG. 9), a hub 3, to which is attached a latching pawl 192, is rotatably mounted on the outer end of shaft 250. This pawl is biased in a counterclockwise direction by means of a tension spring 4 one end of which is attached to pawl 192 and the opposite end of which is secured to the frame side plate 10. The turning movement mentioned in the preceding paragraph (i.e., the turning movement of drive plate 180, in response to turning off of the pump motor) is continued by the operator (customer) until the drive plate 180 is moved sufficiently so that the nose of pawl 192 will fall into the notch 194 in the drive plate 180. This is the position shown in FIG. 5. As a safety measure, an additional notch 196 is cut in the drive plate 180 in advance of the notch 194 so that, in the event the operator succeeds in turning off the motor without bringing the parts fully to the position of FIG. 5, he will be prevented from returning the handle 168 to the on" position. As will be realized, the engagement of the latching pawl 192 in either the notch 194 or notch 196 will prevent reverse (i.e., clockwise) turning of the drive plate 180, and hence of the handle 168, to a position such as to turn on the pump motor. Thus, the pump motor, when turned off at the conclusion of a dispensing operation, cannot be turned back on until the latching pawl 192 has been moved out of the notches 194 or 196; this latter movement occurs during resetting of the register, as will be explained subsequently.

On the inner side of the control plate 182 there is pivoted a second drive pawl 200, the pawl 200 being pivoted in a clockwise direction into engagement with the notched disk 184 by means of a tension spring 202 one end of which is attached to pawl 200 and the opposite end of which is attached to plate 182. The direction in which the pawl 200 faces is such that, when the control plate 182 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction in the manner previously described (i.e., in response to turning off of the pump motor), the nose of the pawl 200 will merely ratchet over the edge of the notched disk 184 and will impart no movement thereto. To ensure that no movement will be imparted to the notched disk 184 by reason of the drag of the pawl 200, there is provided a combination stop and no-back pawl 204 pivoted at 206 on the frame and biased into engagement with the notched disk 184 by means of a spring 208 connected at its opposite ends, respectively, to the frame and to the pawl 204.

The control plate 182 is biased toward either one or the other of two angular positions-which are 60+ apart (considered with respect to the center of shaft 132, about which this plate rotates), by means of a toggle arrangement denoted generally by numeral 5. In this connection, it may be noted that the adjacent notches 185 in the notched disk 184 are 60 apart. Included in the toggle arrangement 5 are a toggle link 6 and a toggle spring 7, the spring surrounding the link. The upper end of link 6 is bifurcated, and its two tines fit in a circumferential slot formed in a nut 8 which threadedly engages the threads provided on the outer end of that one of the spreader bars 12 which is located in the same vertical plane as the center of shaft 132. Link 6 has an elongated longitudinally extending slot 9 near its lower end, within which fits, for sliding movement therein, the outer end of an outwardly extending pin 216 fixed in control plate 182. The compression toggle spring 7 surrounds the flat link 6, one end of this spring bearing against the pin 216 and the other end of this spring bearing against a symmetrical shoulder 11 formed on link 6, near the bifurcated upper end thereof. It will be appreciated that the toggle arrangement 5 urges the plate 182 toward either one or the other of two angular positions which are located symmetrically on opposite sides of a vertical plane passing through the center of shaft 132 and through the center of nut 8, these positions being the ones wherein the pin 216 seats in the lower end of slot 9. One of these positions (the lefthand one) is illustrated in FIG. 5, and the other (the right-hand one) is illustrated in FIGS. 2, 6, and 7.

Assuming that the control handle 168 is in the position for a dispensing operation (pump motor switch turned on), the parts of the resetting mechanism described above will be in the position shown in FIG. 2. In this position, the toggle arrangement 5 is in its righthand position. It thus will be apparent that, when the operator returns the handle 168 to the position which will turn off the pump motor, then the parts of the resetting mechanism referred to will be moved to the position shown in FIG. 5. In this position the drive plate has been turned sufficiently counter-clockwise to cause it to be latched by the latching pawl 192, thus preventing the operator from turning the handle 168 in a reverse direction to again turn on the motor. During the turning of the drive plate 180, the control plate 182 was carried around therewith (in the counter-clockwise direction) by reason of the engagement of the drive pawl 186 with the notch 190, bringing the toggle arrangement 5 to its left-hand position, illustrated in FIG. 5. During this operation no movement is imparted to the primary resetting gear 130 or the notched disk 184, this being effectively prevented by the no-back pawl 204.

At the completion of the movement of the parts to the position shown in FIG. 5, the no-back pawl 204 is cammed to a partial releasing position. As will be observed, the control plate 182 has an abrupt camming edge 183 which is adapted to engage under a flange 201 on the no-back pawl 204, thus lifting the no-back pawl into the partial releasing position as the mechanism reaches the position shown in FIG. 5. As will be noted, the notches of the notched disk 184 have one corner thereof indicated at 185a cut away so as to render the notch more shallow on one side than the other. Accordingly, when the no-back pawl 204 is in full latching position as shown in FIG. 2, movement of the notched disk 184 in either direction is prevented. However, when the no-back pawl 204 is raised to partial releasing position by the camming action of the camming edge 183, as shown in FIG. 5, the notched disk 184 will be released for clockwise movement because of the shallowness of the notch at 185a, but will still be prevented from movement in a counterclockwise direction.

With the apparatus in the position shown in FIG. 5, which is the position of the apparatus at the end of a dispensing operation and with the pump motor turned off, the only operation which is open to the operator is to reset the register (as previously described, the handle I68 cannot be returned to the on" position at this time, because of the action of latching pawl 192). In order for resetting to take place (as will later be described), it is necessary that the control plate 182 be rotated clockwise from the position illustrated in FIG. 5. To enable this rotation to take place, drive pawl 186 must be pivoted so as to disengage its nose 187 from the notch 190 of the drive plate 180.

Outwardly beyond hub 3, an arm 230 is secured to the operating shaft 250. Secured to the arm 230, and located at the outer end of shaft 250, is a coupling 252 (which is thus also secured to shaft 250 The lever arm 230 is biased in a counter-clockwise direction by means of a tension spring 235 one end of which is attached to arm 230 and the opposite end of which is secured to the side plate 10. This spring thus also biases shaft 250 in the counter-clockwise direction. A hub is mounted on the coupling 252 and is pinned at 17 to such coupling, so that the hub rotates with shaft 250. Immediately behind the hub 15, and secured in a nonrotatable manner thereto (so as to also be rotated by shaft 250) is a reset arm 19. An outwardly extending pin 1 is fixed on the tail 186a of the drive pawl 186. The reset arm 19 is somewhat L-shaped seen in elevation as in FIG. 5, and at the end of its short leg carries an integral upwardly inclined camming surface 21 (formed by bending the material of the arm rearwardly, at an angle of about 90 from the plane of the arm). When the control plate 182 moves counter-clockwise from the FIG.-2 position (in response to movement of handle 168 to turn the pump motor off," as previously described) the pin 1 will come into contact with the camming surface 21, causing the drive pawl 186 to be pivoted in the counter-clockwise direction so as to disengage its nose 187 from the notch 190 of drive plate 180. This pivoting of the drive pawl 186 (so as to disengage nose 187 from notch 190) takes place at or slightly before control plate 182 reaches the end of its travel in the counter-clockwise direction of rotation.

The hub 15 is located at the corner or vertex of the generally L-shaped reset arm 19. Behind the toggle arrangement 5, and also behind the upper end of arm 19, there is located a reset link 22. One end of link 22 is pivotally connected to control plate 182, this pivotal or crank-like connection being provided by means of the pin 216, which extends rotatably through a hole provided at this one end of the link.

The reset link 22 has therein an elongated longitudinally extending slot 23 which extends from near the opposite end of this link toward pin 216. A pin 24, which is secured to the upper end (i.e., the end of the long leg) of reset arm 19 and which extends rotatably through the slot 23, provides a lostmotion, pivotal connection between reset arm 19 and reset link 22.

The reset arm 19, which rotates with shaft 250, is biased in the counter-clockwise direction (to the rest position illustrated in FIGS. 2, 5, and 7) by the spring 235. When the apparatus is in the dispensing position illustrated in FIG. 2, pump motor on, the toggle arrangement 5 is in its right-hand position, which means that pin 24 is located at an intermediate position is slot 23 (actually, it is then near or at the left-hand end of this slot). As will be described hereinafter, the actual resetting is effected in response to a clockwise rotation of reset arm 19 through an angle a (see FIG. 5), this angle being about 36. Hence, if the resetting cycle is inadvertently initiated during a dispensing operation (which cycle would cause the reset arm 19 to rotate clockwise through an angle a, and then rotate in the opposite direction back to its original position, as will be described hereinafter), no resetting of the register can occur, and there will be no interference with the dispensing operation. In this case, when the arm 19 rotates clockwise, pin 24 will merely move toward the right within slot 23, but not as far as the right-hand end thereof, and then when the arm 19 rotates in the reverse direction, pin 24 will move back toward the left within slot 23; there will be no movement of control plate 182 under these conditions.

At the end of a dispensing operation, movement of the handle 168 to turn the pump motor off causes counter-clockwise movement of control plate 182, as previously described. Then, since reset arm 19 remains stationary, the parts move to the position illustrated in FIG. 5, with the toggle arrangement 5 in its left-hand position (brought to this position by pin 216, in plate 182) and with pin 24 at the right-hand end of slot 23. In this connection, it will be appreciated that link 22 moves to the left when pin 216 moves with plate 182.

With the apparatus in the position shown in FIG. 5 (dispensing ended and pump motor turned off), the register is now ready for resetting. In order to reset the register, the operating shaft 250 is first rotated clockwise through an angle a, following which it is rotated in the opposite direction to its original position; how this shaft rotation is effected from a remote location will be explained hereinafter. Turning now to the actual resetting operation which takes place,'it may be seen that clockwise rotation of shaft 250 results in rotation of the reset arm 19 in this same direction, causing (since pin 24 is now at the right-hand end of slot 23 in link 22) the control plate 182 to rotate in a clockwise direction (by means of link 22 and pin 216). Such clockwise rotation of the control plate 182 will cause a concurrent rotation of the notched disk 184 because of the driving action of the second drive pawl 200 which is in engagement with one of the notches of the notched disk 184. This concurrent movement of the notched disk 184 will not be prevented by the no-back pawl 204, because as previously mentioned, this pawl has been disengaged to releasing position by the cam shoulder 183 of the control plate 182. Upon partial movement of the control plate 182 and the notched disk 184 therewith, the no-back pawl 204 is again free to lock the disk 184 against movement, which it does as soon as disk 184 has rotated far enough to bring the next notch 185 into registry therewith, which occurs at the completion of the necessary amount of turning to effect complete resetting. In the specific embodiment, the distance between notches 185 is approximately 60, which provides sufficient rotation of the resetting gear 130, which is integral with and rotates with the notched disk 184, to complete a resetting operation.

Since control plate 182 when moving in a clockwise direction also drives the notched disk 184 through the pawl 200, this causes turning of the primary resetting gear 130, which movement automatically resets the number wheels to zero. At the completion of this portion of the resetting cycle, the parts will be in the position shown in FIG. 6. The reset arm 19 is now in its clockwise position, and the toggle arrangement is now in its right-hand position (brought to this position by pin 24 moving link 22 toward the right, and with it pin 216).

When the parts move from the position of FIG. 5 to that of FIG. 6, the latching pawl 192 is disengaged from the notch 194 of the drive plate 180 by reason of the camming edge 236 of the control plate 182 which engages against the flange 193 of the latching pawl 192 (as control plate 182 rotates clockwise) and thereby earns the pawl 192 in a clockwise direction to disengaging position. Since the latching pawl 192 is now disengaged from the drive plate 180, the operator is free to turn the handle 168 to turn on the pump motor.

To complete the resetting cycle, shaft 250 is rotated I in the counter-clockwise direction back to its rest or counter-clockwise position, resulting in rotation of the reset arm 19 in this same direction, causing pin 24 to move toward the left within slot 23 (to a location near the left-hand end thereof); the toggle arrangement 5 remains in its right-hand position. Thus, at the completion of the resetting cycle the parts will be in the position shown in FIG. 7. Since, as previously stated, the latching plate 192 is now disengaged from the drive plate 180, the operator is then permitted to turn the handle 168 to turn on the pump motor which, of course, returns the mechanism to the position shown in FIG. 2. In this position, the drive pawl 186 is reengaged with the notch 190 of the drive plate 180 and by reason of the rotation'of the reset shaft 132 during turning movement of handle 168, the wheel-supporting shafts are shifted to re-engage the number wheels with their driving gears, thus conditioning the apparatus for a dispensing operation.

In the apparatus described in the previously mentioned patent, the energy stored in a heavy spring is utilized, during the resetting operation, to rotate the control plate 182 in a clockwise direction so as to reset the number wheels to zero. Such heavy spring has to be loaded during the manual rotation of the handle 168 to turn off the pump motor, calling for the application of a substantial physical force (on the order of 20 lbs., for example) to turn the handle to off." In the present invention, on the other hand, the driving energy for rotating the operating shaft 250 (the rotation of which rotates control plate 182 clockwise, for resetting) is provided by an electric motor, as will be described. This means that the heavy spring of the prior art is eliminated, enabling a substantial reduction in the physical force required to turn the handle 168 to off. In fact, with the present invention, this physical force is reduced to about 5 lbs.

Refer now to FIGS. 1 and 12. A ll5-volt alternating current reset motor 25 is mounted in the lower portion of the dispensing apparatus housing, this motor being energizable from the alternating current source 26 by way of a pair of leads 27 whenever a normally open, single-pole, momentary push-button switch 28 connected in series in one of the leads is closed. The pushbutton switch 28 is preferably located remotely from the gasoline dispensing apparatus which is to be controllably reset, and may, for example, be located in a cashier's cage for a self-service type of operation.

In the cashiers cage, there is preferably provided a separate push button such as 28 for each respective gasoline dispensing apparatus to be controlled by the cashier, and each push-button may have associated with it a local indicator (in the form of a counter) which indicates, by means of a set of number wheels, the cost of the gasoline dispensed by the corresponding gasoline dispensing apparatus. The counter would be operated by electrical pulses supplied from the corresponding dispensing apparatus, as described in US. Pat. No. 3,344,986. Thus, a series of 10 magnets would be attached to the penny wheel of the register cost wheels C, and the passage of each of these magnets past a reed switch would close this switch and produce an electrical pulse; thus, one pulse would be produced (and transmitted to the cashiers cage) for each penny of cost. These pulses would then be applied to the corresponding counter located in the cahiers cage.

A small driving gear 29 on the output shaft of motor 25 meshes with a larger driven gear 30, to provide a speed reduction. On the wheel of gear 30 there is mounted an actuating member 31 (for example, in the form of a pin) which is adapted to come into engagement (as gear 30 rotates) with the stationary actuating member 33 for a single-pole, single-throw limit switch (microswitch) 35 whose contacts are normally closed but are opened when members 31 and 33 come into engagement. The contacts of switch 35 are connected electrically in parallel with the contacts of push-button switch 28.

The circuit arrangement described for the reset motor 25 enables it to be turned on by actuation of the remote push-button 28; following initial energization, it locks itself on for one revolution of gear 30, and then automatically turns itself off. When push-button 28 is closed, an obvious energization circuit is completed for motor 25, which then starts to rotate. As the motor drives gear 30, member 31 becomes disengaged from member 33, releasing switch 35, whose contacts then close and maintain an energization circuit for the motor, even though push-button 28 is released (this energization circuit including the now-closed contacts of switch 35). The motor will remain energized until one revolution of gear 30 is completed, at which point member 31 engages member 33 to open switch 35, thus breaking the motor energization circuit; the motor then stops (assuming that push-button 28 is then open, as will normally be the case). Thus, the motor 25 drives gear 30 through one revolution, each time that the reset push-button 28 is pushed.

Mounted on the shaft 37 (schematically illustrated) for gear 30, and driven thereby, is a crank 39 the outer end of which, as it rotates, describes a circle denoted by numeral 41. One end of a rigid driving means 43 (which may be, for example, a length of rather stiff wire) is pivotally connected to the outer end of crank 39, and the other end of this driving means 43 (which may extend upwardly from the lower portion of the dispensing apparatus housing, where the motor 25 is mounted, to the register described, which is ordinarily located in the upper portion of the housing) is secured to the outer end of a drive arm 45 which is fastened at its inner end to the operating shaft 250. The arrangement is such that the crank 39, as it rotates through one revolution (circle 41), first rotates the shaft 250 clockwise through the angle a (see also FIG. and then rotates this shaft back to its original or rest position. As previously described, the rotation of the operating shaft 250 clockwise through the angle a (which is about 36, for example), followed by the rotation of this shaft in the opposite direction back to its original or rest position, produces a resetting of the register. Thus, the actuation (closing) of the remotely located pushbutton 28 causes gear 30 to be driven through one revolution by the reset motor 25, rotating the shaft 250 through the angle a and resetting the register.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a liquid dispensing mechanism, a counter provided with resetting means, a rotatable member operatively connected to the resetting means, a rotatable control plate mounted coaxially with said member, a one-way clutch coupling said control plate to said member for rotatably driving said member in response to rotation of the control plate in one direction, a rotatable drive plate mounted coaxially'with the control plate and member, releasable means associated with the control plate and drive plate for rotatably driving the control plate in the opposite direction in response to rotation of the drive plate in said opposite direction, manually operable means for rotating the drive plate in said opposite direction, means for releasing said releasable means from driving relationship upon the reaching by said control plate, as it rotates in said opposite direction, of a predetermined angular position; a rotatable driving shaft, and means coupling said shaft to said control plate to rotatably drive the latter in said one direction in response to the rotation of said driving shaft.

2. Combination set forth in claim 1, including also motor-powered means for rotating said driving shaft.

3. Combination defined in claim 2, wherein said motor-powered means includes an electric motor arranged to be energized from an electrical power source upon manual operation of a switch.

4. Combination set forth in claim 1, including also a bidirectional toggle arrangement coupled to said control plate for biasing said control plate toward one or the other of two positions one of which is said predetermined angular position and the other of which is an angular position reached by said control plate when the latter is rotatably driven in said one direction.

5. Combination of claim 1, wherein said releasing meansoperates automatically to release said releasable means from driving relationship.

6. Combination defined in claim 1, wherein the lastmentioned means comprises an arm secured at one end to said driving shaft, a link member pivotally connected at one end to said control late and a lost-motion pivotal connection between t e other end of said arm and the free end of said link member.

7. Combination set forth in claim 6, including also motor-powered means for rotating said driving shaft.

8. Combination defined in claim 7, wherein said motor-powered means includes an electric motor arranged to be energized from an electrical power source upon manual operation of a switch.

9. Combination set forth in claim 6, including also a bidirectional toggle arrangement coupled to said control plate for biasing said control plate toward one or the other of two positions one of which is said predetermined angular position and the other of which is an angular position reached by said control plate when the latter is rotatably driven in said one direction.

10. Combination of claim 6, wherein said releasing means'operates automatically to release said releasable means from driving relationship.

11. Combination of claim 1, wherein the control plate is driven in said one direction in response to the rotation of the driving shaft in the same direction.

12. Combination set forth in claim 11, including also motor-powered means for rotating said driving shaft in said one direction.

13. Combination of claim 12, wherein said motorpowered means, when energized, first rotates said shaft in said one direction through a predetermined angle less than 360, and then rotates said shaft in the opposite direction back to its original position.

t IF 

1. In a liquid dispensing mechanism, a counter provided with resetting means, a rotatable member operatively connected to the resetting means, a rotatable control plate mounted coaxially with said member, a one-way clutch coupling said control plate to said member for rotatably driving said member in response to rotation of the control plate in one direction, a rotatable drive plate mounted coaxially with the cOntrol plate and member, releasable means associated with the control plate and drive plate for rotatably driving the control plate in the opposite direction in response to rotation of the drive plate in said opposite direction, manually operable means for rotating the drive plate in said opposite direction, means for releasing said releasable means from driving relationship upon the reaching by said control plate, as it rotates in said opposite direction, of a predetermined angular position; a rotatable driving shaft, and means coupling said shaft to said control plate to rotatably drive the latter in said one direction in response to the rotation of said driving shaft.
 1. In a liquid dispensing mechanism, a counter provided with resetting means, a rotatable member operatively connected to the resetting means, a rotatable control plate mounted coaxially with said member, a one-way clutch coupling said control plate to said member for rotatably driving said member in response to rotation of the control plate in one direction, a rotatable drive plate mounted coaxially with the cOntrol plate and member, releasable means associated with the control plate and drive plate for rotatably driving the control plate in the opposite direction in response to rotation of the drive plate in said opposite direction, manually operable means for rotating the drive plate in said opposite direction, means for releasing said releasable means from driving relationship upon the reaching by said control plate, as it rotates in said opposite direction, of a predetermined angular position; a rotatable driving shaft, and means coupling said shaft to said control plate to rotatably drive the latter in said one direction in response to the rotation of said driving shaft.
 2. Combination set forth in claim 1, including also motor-powered means for rotating said driving shaft.
 3. Combination defined in claim 2, wherein said motor-powered means includes an electric motor arranged to be energized from an electrical power source upon manual operation of a switch.
 4. Combination set forth in claim 1, including also a bidirectional toggle arrangement coupled to said control plate for biasing said control plate toward one or the other of two positions one of which is said predetermined angular position and the other of which is an angular position reached by said control plate when the latter is rotatably driven in said one direction.
 5. Combination of claim 1, wherein said releasing means operates automatically to release said releasable means from driving relationship.
 6. Combination defined in claim 1, wherein the last-mentioned means comprises an arm secured at one end to said driving shaft, a link member pivotally connected at one end to said control plate, and a lost-motion pivotal connection between the other end of said arm and the free end of said link member.
 7. Combination set forth in claim 6, including also motor-powered means for rotating said driving shaft.
 8. Combination defined in claim 7, wherein said motor-powered means includes an electric motor arranged to be energized from an electrical power source upon manual operation of a switch.
 9. Combination set forth in claim 6, including also a bidirectional toggle arrangement coupled to said control plate for biasing said control plate toward one or the other of two positions one of which is said predetermined angular position and the other of which is an angular position reached by said control plate when the latter is rotatably driven in said one direction.
 10. Combination of claim 6, wherein said releasing means operates automatically to release said releasable means from driving relationship.
 11. Combination of claim 1, wherein the control plate is driven in said one direction in response to the rotation of the driving shaft in the same direction.
 12. Combination set forth in claim 11, including also motor-powered means for rotating said driving shaft in said one direction. 